I've played strats since 2003 and I've played through a lot of different models and pickups. These are without a doubt the best pickups fender makes. If you're looking for the quintessential vintage strat tone these are the best. For a vintage set, these do not sound thin or weak like some other sets, they are very woody and warm. The bridge pickup is not harsh it has the perfect amount of quack. These perfectly amplify the natural acoustic sound of the guitar without anything unnecessary. Another thing that really impressed me is that they have almost no hum or static, even when pushed. I've chased this tone for a very long time and this is the best that it gets.

Absolutely the best pickups I've ever used in a Fender guitar. They're spanky and have that mid 60s Fender charm that I've been chasing after since I was in high school. I bought a set of these for my 2007 MIM Stratocaster and now it sounds incredible. It almost sounds better than my Gibson SG through my Vox AC15. I'm torn between the two now. These pickups will turn any guitar into a goldmine of tone. If I ever get another Stratocaster, I'm going to make sure these pickups are in it. There's no need for an American model when you can put these in your guitar.

Have a 1995 vantage strat look alike.Replaced the original pickups with the fender vintage 65 pickups.The fit and look is perfect to the stock set up. Sound is everything fender said it would be.Turned a low quality guitar into a great sounding guitar. Should have done it years ago.I now play it as much as my Gibson Les Paul standard.Thank you sweetwater for all your help.

In my opinion, the 60s were peak Strat tone, and these pickups captures that perfectly. I'm an aficionado when it comes to Strat pickups because I love my Stratocasters and I do a lot of research before making purchases. These pickups capture that pure unadulterated Strat tone much better than any of the custom shop pups, any of the modern pups they put on the Pro and Ultra lines, even better than the Eric Johnson pups, and thanks to a lack of publicity not many people know about this. The only pups that I think rival these when it comes to Strat sound is the Texas Special pups, which have more bite compared to the sweeter tone of the pure vintage 65's. These really are a hidden gem. No matter what you have equipped on your Strat currently, these will sound like an upgrade.

I recently purchased a set of these Pure Vintage '65 Strat pickups, and I'm very happy with them. Each position sounds full and clear, and to my ears these would be hard to beat in terms of late sixties era Strat tone. I find these work best with a very simple and vintage inspired rig. A blackface, tweed, or Vox style amp with a touch of reverb and a tube screamer for more grit is all you need with these pickups. I now play the guitar with this set installed more than any other. If vintage gear and tone is what you desire, I highly recommend checking out this pickup set for your Strat.

I got these things for a deluxe roadhouse strat that had noiseless pickups, it was so bright it only sounded good in the neck position with tone rolled all the way down. When I put these things in I couldn't put my strat down! They sound so warm and full, really nail the Hendrix tone.

Have a 2006 deluxe ash stratocaster, never played it since new, due to terrible sound, I finally got the courage to wire up some cts pots,orange drop caps and an usa switch, added the set of true vintage 65 stratocaster pickups, everything this beautiful guitar was lacking. Fantastic sound, would highly recommend for bare bones great sound, will be trying a set in alder body in future.

I put these pickups in an American Performer of mine and the tone just blew me away.
I wanted more of a old school Strat sound and these gave it right to me. Clapton, Hendrix, Blackmore and even Surf etc..
These do it perfect. Shout out to Ben and the Sweetwater team for getting these pickups fast.